Tokigeza: Uganda’s bold campaign to protect digital infrastructure 📣

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Vandalism targeting telecom infrastructure is a growing threat across Africa. It not only disrupts essential connectivity but also inflicts significant financial losses on mobile operators. In Uganda, industry leaders and the government are teaming up to fight back.

‘Tokigeza’: Uganda’s three-month push to stop sabotage 📣

In mid-May, Uganda launched a nationwide campaign to tackle the vandalism of telecom infrastructure. Dubbed Tokigeza — Luganda for “Don’t do it” — the three-month effort is spearheaded by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) in partnership with MTN Uganda, Airtel Uganda, and tower operator ATC Uganda.

The campaign is rolling out across multiple platforms — radio, TV, online, schools, and local community hubs — with a focus on awareness and prevention.

Key stakeholders being targeted include local authorities, law enforcement, landowners, and boda-boda (motorbike taxi) drivers. The goal is to turn them into frontline allies for spotting and reporting suspicious activity.

Proposed measures include stiffer criminal penalties under the Penal Code, tighter regulation of the scrap metal trade (often used to offload stolen parts), and the formation of a multi-agency task force to coordinate enforcement efforts.

A costly crisis for Uganda’s telecom sector 📉

Between 2022 and 2024, Uganda recorded over 820 incidents of cable vandalism, 283 fuel thefts, and 90 stolen batteries. These acts caused widespread service outages — some lasting more than 134 hours — in regions such as Sheema, Kaliro, and Masaka.

Beyond disrupting service quality, the vandalism also undermines Uganda’s digital development goals, especially in underserved rural areas.

Public-private alliance aims for long-term solutions 🤝

In April 2024, a national forum brought together public institutions and private companies to brainstorm durable solutions. Uganda’s Ministry of ICT emphasized that protecting telecom infrastructure is key to sustaining the country’s growth and accelerating its digital transformation.

“The public and private sectors must work hand in hand to protect telecom networks. The country’s progress and digital integration depend on it,” said Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary at the ministry.

A push to designate telecom towers as critical infrastructure 🛡️

President Yoweri Museveni announced plans in April to classify telecom towers as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). If enacted, the move would bring tighter legal protections, enhanced surveillance capabilities, and tougher prosecution for vandalism.

The UCC is also pushing for legal reforms that would categorize telecom sabotage as economic sabotage — a change that could carry much harsher penalties.

But there’s a catch: the legal framework is still pending. Without formal adoption, these proposals remain aspirational. Uganda may face the same challenges as Nigeria, where similar laws were enacted in 2024 but failed to stem widespread vandalism of fiber optic lines.

What practical steps could your country take to curb telecom vandalism? Share your thoughts in the comments! 😊